jab for covid protection

[Uglow]

since when did it take so many jabs to protect someone!

[Seacat30]

I suspect that this post will be closed down ... but I appreciate your viewpoint.

[Kendrew in reply to Seacat30]

Sorry Seacat30..... I meant to respond to Uglow.

[123-go]

'Since the emergence of Covid' is the answer to your question. Don't forget that the virus mutates and extra protection is needed to combat the effects of variants.immunology.org/coronavirus/...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a new virus - and like all viruses it mutates. It mutates particularly efficiently because of the high number of cases and when it mutates it has different characteristics and is able to infect more easily or even evade the protection offered by a jab. That is is why you catch Omicron so easily if you don't wear a mask and observe the other measures that worked well early in the pandemic before the jabs.

Flu also mutates - not quite as quickly but there are fewer cases for it to get the chance and it requires an annual jab because there is a clear "flu season" as it is a winter weather problem. If there weren't a seasonal aspect to it you woud need a 6 monthly jab for protection against it too because our immunity wanes over about 5 to 6 months and that is why you shouldn't get the flu jab too soon before the flu season in your region of the world. That is actually about the same as with Covid,

For some reason, Covid doesn't calm down in a particular season, just as perky in summer as in winter, and it also doesn't create herd immunity amongst the population. Like flu the immunity created by the vaccine fades over a periof 5 to 6 months so a boost is helpful to prevent you getting serious illness and it also reduces the risk of developing long Covid which is actually far scarier than getting acute Covid itself and will be what creates the biggest longer term problems in the economy.

It is only the UK that has had this rush for one jab after another. I have had 4 in 17 months because I actively sought my third and fourth jabs and the fifth will be available together with my flu jab in the autumn, probably the end of October or November here. Our figures aren't any worse than the UK with so much less vaccination or, more accurately, with 6 months gaps between jabs.

The value of the boosters is to reduce the risks of serious illness and death - if that is all it does, that is still a very good thing. The NHS is on its knees anyway, they have no beds free for various reasons, the last thing they need is a resurgence of serious Covid cases.

[Kendrew]

I think like 123-go said, it's not just about protecting ourselves, it's about protecting everyone else.

Prof Tim Spector has said that all a virus wants to do is 'thrive & survive'.

It can only do that by mutating, and it can only mutate by being transmitted from one host to another.

Every time its transmitted to someone else, even if they aren't aware they have it and are quite well, it's still affording the virus yet another opportunity to mutate.

Although virologists always hope with each successive transmission the virus will get weaker, there's always the potential for it to mutate into a variant that's resistant to all current vaccines and to become more potent and deadly again. This would obviously result in us being right back where we were in 2020, and I don't think any of us relish that possibility!

So the aim would always be to continue minimising the number of transmissions as well as the potency of the corona virus. Vaccination is certainly one way to help facilitate this outcome.

[Jigsawlass in reply to Kendrew]

I've been following John Campbell and interestingly he says it appears there are no new variants on the horizon which is excellent!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jigsawlass]

Let’s hope he’s correct…

[Jigsawlass in reply to DorsetLady]

Absolutely

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

He thinks does he? Crystal balls again - and I thought he was fairly sensible!!!! You find out about new variants when they appear - and you can't forecast them ...

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

Not just wishful thinking...from the evidence he has been following in the scientific community

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

Time will tell - and I hope he is right. But it doesn't tally with what I have seen - which is that we cannot know.

[Kendrew in reply to Jigsawlass]

Well that's really good to hear but I genuinely feel confused at that statement. I wonder how he knows with such certainty?

I thought this whole area of concern was as a result of it not being possible to predict if or when a new variant will occur.

I'm definitely perplexed now!

[Jigsawlass in reply to Kendrew]

From watching his video he seems to be saying that other variants, as we know , have come along , but there is no evidence as yet , of any new variants post BA 5 or whatever the latest one is ! He does talk sense I think

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

That's not the same as saying there are never going to be any on the horizon though. That could all change tomorrow. Hope it doesn't ...

[Kendrew in reply to Jigsawlass]

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